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Yeah, I'm back.

Monday, May 7, 2012

As of today I have been married seven years, and I would marry my husband again tomorrow if it were possible.

Mainly because we need new stuff.

I think that may actually be the source of the "seven year itch." You look around your house and realize the adorable cottage you bought and called your "love nest" is now is desperate need of painting and other repairs. You've broken most of the fancy wine glasses you got as wedding presents, and at least some of the china has chips. Your child(ren) have broken at least one thing you loved, but that is too expensive and impractical to replace. The hand towels are now being used as cleaning rags, and the bath towels that haven't been accidentally bleached just look worn. The chafing dish that an Aunt gave you is still in perfect condition though, mostly because you have never had a reason to "chafe."

Then you look at your spouse. Like your towels they are worn as well. You both have likely put on some weight. You've probably lost (or in the case of women, gained) some hair. There is no mystery about what goes on in the bathroom. Every bad habit has been exposed, every argument hashed out at least once, and every nerve has been frayed. If you don't have a strong marriage, I can see why some people would feel something needs to be "scratched."

Luckily, I have a strong marriage. I can honestly say I love my husband as much, if not more than I did the day I married him, and I know for a fact I like him a lot more. Our friendship has gotten deeper over the years, mainly because the mystery has disappeared. Oh, and because we've never lost our senses of humor. Take last night for example: I was brining a chicken (I am very fancy) and it would not stay under the water. I asked Ryan what he thought I should do. "Put a heavy bowl on top of it." I did, and it worked. "See, that's why I married you," I said. "Yep," he replied,"because I'm a problem solver, and you're a problem maker."

That never would have flown during year two.

I guess that's the trade off. While the shine wears off all of the presents that came with the wedding, over time the marriage itself becomes the gift. Such a gift, in fact, that I don't feel cheesy writing sentences like that one. I actually believe it to be true. Maybe that's what I'll use to comfort myself from now on every time an appliance breaks, or Meg floods the bathroom and ruins the rug, or we realize we need to repair a wall: "this is making my marriage stronger."

I could go for a few new things as well. I also have things that have never been used, many bizarre pieces of stem wear (can you say "re-gift?", a now empty except for yucky things spice rack, a food processor (couldn't even sell that in the garage sale for a $1.)

Awww. Sweet. We're considering a recommitment ceremony because all our friends were broke when we got married 16 years ago so they all just wrote us checks for $30. Which we cashed to pay for the wedding.